About Egypt

Egypt lies on the eastern fringe of the Sahara Desert of Africa. It is situated at the junction of two continents, Asia and Africa, also called the country of two continents. It is bounded by the Red Sea and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. Egypt is also called the “Gift of the Nile”. If there were no Nile River, the country would have been a dry trackless desert as the Great Sahara. Seen from the air, the Nile valley looks like a ribbon winding through the desert. The Nile River is one of the longest rivers in the world, originating from the Lake Victoria.

Egypt is a prosperous, thickly populated country famous for its pyramids, sphinx, mummies temples, monuments, antiques etc. Nature and desert treks, golf, scuba diving, fishing and birding expeditions are well liked. You may wish to relax on the incredible Red Sea or the Sinai Coast, or float down the river Nile. Egypt is also part of the Holy Land and popular with Christians.

It is a country which made paper called papyrus, first of all and thus added to the field of knowledge.

Transport

The network of both road and rail transport is very thick in the Nile Valley and the delta region. Cairo is the centre of transport system in Egypt. All roads and rails pass through Cairo. The river Nile is navigable through out the year. It is a natural highway. The roads and railways run along the course of this river. In the desert areas camel caravans are still important.

The Suez Canal

The Suez Canal was built in 1896 by a French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps .This canal is cut through the isthmus which separates the continent of Asia and Africa. It is approximately 172 km long. The opening of this canal put Egypt on the world map of international trade. In 1956, Egypt took possession of this canal which was earlier under the control of foreign governments and companies. It is an important source of revenue for the Egyptian Government. It has been widened and deepened to facilitate two- way traffic through out its length. All sorts of merchandise pass through it, including machinery, agricultural products, crude oil and it’s refined products.

The People

Egypt has an average density of 60 persons per square km but, almost all the population is concentrated in the Nile valley and the Nile delta, which form only 3.5% of the total area of Egypt, which is about 1.75 million sq km in area. Most of the inhabitants are Arabs, who are the followers of Islam.

Population of Egypt is not evenly distributed. In the desert area people lead a nomadic life. They can move from one place to another with their camels in search of food and water supply. Oasis in the desert is a great boon for them as it provides them shelter and relief in addition to food and water supply.

Key Destinations for Tourists

Gorgeous beaches and Mediterranean resorts in Alexandria and the Northern Coast. Tanta, Zagazig, Dumyat, Damanhur, El Mansura, Benha in the delta from the north of Cairo to the Mediterranean East of Alexandria.

Abu Sir, Dhashur, Giza, Meidum, Saqqara in Cairo and the lower Nile Valley from Cairo to ZEl Tabbin.

Atfih, Beni Suef, Ihnasya el Madina, El Lahun, El Minya in the lower Nile valley from El- Minya.
With Luxor and the Surrounding Area -the upper Nile valley from the south of El-Minya to Qena. With Luxor / Thebes, from the South of Qena to the north of Idfu.

Elephantine Island, Kitcheners Island, High Dam in the Aswan and Nubia, from Idfu to Abu Simbel.

El-Gouna, Hurghada, Suez, Berenice, Ain Sukhna, Al-Quseir in the Red Sea.

El Arish, Ras Mohamed, Dahab, Taba in Sinai.

Fayoum, Siwa, Farafra, Kharga, Bahariya, Dakhla are the Oasis, while Wadi Natrun the park of Egypt must be on the schedule of every tourist.